Cleveland - Last Day Of The Trip!

This was the sunrise from our window this morning in Indianapolis. It seems that it was darker at 6:00 than it had been on other days and we actually saw the sunrise today!

It seems like forever since we started this trip. Maybe that's because we keep forgetting stuff but it has been 35 days! As usual on a trip it's a happy/sad feeling on the last day because the trip is almost over but you get to sleep in your own bed the next day! We arrived in Cleveland in time to hit Costco to pick up some beverages to bring home. They have better prices than duty free! And, amazingly, we are once again in a hotel right in the centre of the city's sporting heart. We are in the Radisson directly across from Progressive Field where the Indians play. Just down the street is Quicken Loans Arena where the Cavaliers play. We did a few hours of walking around and saw a good bit of the downtown area but there is a lot more here. It's another city, only 5 hours away, that we think we'll come back to explore more. 

We have reservations at Michael Symon's Lola tonight (pics etc. later) and it's just around the corner. We walked by to confirm and it's on a cool little street, 4th Ave West, that's a pedestrian mall. You could spend a week just eating on this street!

Here are a few Cleveland street scenes. There was really an interesting mix of old and new buildings. We went up to the 10th floor of the library and got a couple of overview shots as well.

Here you can see the stadium where the Cleveland Browns play as well as Lake Erie.

Outside the library, Marilyn found these little guys and a reading nest that was made from scrap wood. 

We went into what was called the 5th Ave Arcade. It was two long hallways in an old building that had recently been repaired and used for shops. The ceilings were probably the most interesting parts of the arcades.

This is called the Old Stone Church. It's an interesting contrast between old and new.

Ok, we've just gotten back from our dinner at Lola and it was the perfect way to end the trip. The place was full and everyone was having fun. For appetizers we had an heirloom tomato salad and beef cheek pierogies!

Marilyn had an amazing pork shank with heirloom beans, fennel and myer lemon. The pictures don't really do the food justice I think, but you get the idea!

My entree was a smoked Hampshire pork chop with chilies, cheesy polenta and bbq onions. Both were very, very tasty! 

Tomorrow morning, we'll be checking out the West Side Market, a famous market in Cleveland that was rebuilt after a fire in the winter. Then we hit the road and get home in the afternoon some time. There will be at least another post to wrap up this trip!